Target.



No. 863,486. PATBNTED AUG. 13, 1907. R. H. AIKEN.

TARGET. APPLIOATION FILED Mn 4,1907

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 863,486. PATENTED AUG. 1a, 1907.

' R. H. AIKEN.

TARGET.

KPPLIOATION FILED MAY 4.1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

iWihwoozo UNITED STATES ROBERT H. AIKEN,

OF WINTHROP HARBOR, ILLINOIS.

TARGET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed May 4,1907. Serial N0- 371,859.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT I-I. AIKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winthrop Harbor, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Targets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to targets for use upon rifle ranges, and particularly to apparatus consisting of a rigid vertical frame carrying two vertically movable targets so arranged that when either is at its lowest point its companion is at the upper limit of its path, the one usually being then protected by a butt while the other is fully exposed above the butt, which is high enough to fully screen the attendant who ma nipulates the apparatus and gives all necessary attention to lower target while the other is held above in exposed position.

The general object of the invention is to provide a target, of this general class, which shall be strong, simple, convenient, capable of standing rough service usage, and not unduly expensive.

The apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the apparatus in side elevation when one target is at its lowest point, the raised target being broken away. Fig. 2 is a view looking from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one end of the apparatus with the targets broken away. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of two target-bearing carriages. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views. Fig. 7 shows the use of a modified target with the same apparatus.

In these drawings, A represents one of two like targets'each secured to a rectangular wood frame having its side bars A extended below the body of the frame and made wedge-like at the ends to fit in suitable sockets. In general terms it may be said that these two targets are parallel to each other and each movably fixed in its owncarriage B, B, the two carriages being connected by chain belts I, I, or the like, passing over rollers I revolubly supported near the upper ends of a rigid vertical frame D so constructed as to guide the carriages accurately in vertical paths, the construction being such that neither target in any of its positions can tilt edgewise or flatwise.

The frame supporting and guiding the carriages is made up of four vertical steel angle bars D so placed that their angles and webs coincide with the angles and sides of a long narrow rectangle, the two bars at each of the ends of this rectangle are rigidly connected near their upper and lower ends by two-part couplings D riveted to the webs of the bars and clamped by bolts I) upon the ends of tubular cross-bars D each lying in the longitudinal medial plane of the rectangle and having its opposite end clamped in like manner in a like coupling connecting the corresponding guide bars at the opposite end of the rectangle. At their lower ends the angle bars at each end of the rectangle are riveted to a horizontal base bar E and the union is reinforced by riveting to the horizontal and vertical bars a plate E. The frame thus formed is further stiffened by steel braces E extending from the bases, respectively, obliquely upward to the lower tubular crossbar and rigidly secured at both ends. The frame so made is light yet extremely rigid, and the four parallel webs two of which lie in the vertical plane of each of the broader sides of the supposed rectangle form guides for two vertically moving target carriages, to be described. As the two carriages are precisely similar one only need be described in detail.

Each carriage has two long vertical channel members F each provided upon its broader outer face with a pair of rollers F near its upper end and a like pair near its lower end, gage and run upon the web of one of the bars D, and the two members are connected by a strong angle bar F preferably tapered as shown and riveted to corresponding flanges of both members F. To the opposite flange of the member F and in the horizontal plane of the bar F is riveted another parallel angle bar F and this, at a short distance from the bar F is bent horizontally and has its end riveted to the bar F The horizontal flanges or webs of the bars F F are cut across near the point where the latter is bent and doubled down upon the corresponding vertical flanges, thereby forming an opening having broad smooth vertical faces. Each channel bar F is bent inward at right angles a little below the lower set of rollers and its flange-connecting body is cut through longitudinally and transversely to form two lips F and these are bent downward to oblique position to form a wedgeshaped socket below and in registry with the described opening between the members F F.

From a point a little beyond the socket, a portion of the bar F is cut away and the remainder is bent obliquely upward and riveted to the angle bar F and thus the similar end portions of the carriage are connected only by a single bar, which when the target borne by the carriage is raised and the other target is in its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 2, all parts of the latter target may be readily seen and reached by the attendant who keeps the score and attaches stickers and spotters.

The target is fixed in its carriage by passing its downwardly projecting side bars A through the openings between the bars F F and inserting their tapered both pairs in position to closely enends in the wedge shaped sockets in the members F, and by then inserting in said openings, alongside the side bars, wedges G, the said openings being made wider than the side bars, for this purpose; In the ends of the upper tubular cross-bar are placed thimbles H forming bearings for a shaft H mounted in the tube and projecting from each end thereof, and upon the projecting ends, respectively, are rigidly secured duplicate sprocket wheels 1. Over each sprocket wheel passes a chain 1 having its ends attached, respectively, to projections I from the sides of the corresponding carriages, and the lengths of the chains are such that when one target is fully raised the other may be in its lowest position. As the chains cannot slip and the sprocket wheels are fixed on their shaft it is evident that the two sides or edges of each target must rise equally or fall equally even if the impelling force be applied at one corner or edge of the target.

For shifting the targets, special provision is made. Upon at least one end of the shaft H a pinion J is fixed and with this engages a gear, or geared segment, .1 revolubly mounted upon the side of the supporting frame This gear is oscillated by means of a pitman K the lower end of which is pivoted to one arm of a counterweighted foot-lever L mounted upon the end of a shaft M lying in the lower tubular cross bar. The lever arm to be pressed by the foot is bent at right angles so that its outer end may extend alongside the frame, parallel to the cross bars, to any desired distance. The weighted arm of the lever normally rests upon a stop N upon the frame, and the pitman has its upper end in the position shown, when the two targets have the positions illustrated.

It is clear from the construction, shown in Fig. 2, that the pitman and the lever arm to which it is attached are normally approximately in a straight line, upon whichever side of the axis of the gear the pitman may lie, and that consequently the pitman resists all rotation of the gear unless, or until, its lower end is swung out of line by the lever.

When it is desired to shift the targets, the foot lever is suddenly depressed, drawing the pitman down and rotating the gear. The upper end of the pitman being carried past the point vertically below the shafts axis and the treadle being released, the momentum of the parts and the action of the counterweight continues the rotation of the gear until the weighted lever arm strikes the stop and the upper end of the pitman reaches its original height, but upon the opposite side of the shaft, where the gear is practically locked each time in exactly the same position. The proportions of the parts are such that this rotation of the gear is precisely enough to raise the lower target from its lowest to its highest position. If now the foot lever be again depressed, the movement is reversed, restoring the targets to their former positions and again practically locking them against other movement than that produced by the treadle. When it is desired to remove either target and its frame, the wedges above mentioned are loosened (if necessary) and the target frame is lifted out of its carriage.

In long distance target practice where the wind often causes lateral deflection or drifting of the projectiles, it is usually desired to use targets of materially greater horizontal width, and to permit this a different wood frame for the target sheet is used, as shown in Fig. 7, the frame being made of the desired width horizontally and carried by upright wood bars fitting as before in the sockets in the two carriages. The target sheet must be in front of these bars else the bars would cross the target face. The frame of the front target rests upon supports A secured to the bars A, to which, in this case, the target proper is not fastened, and is held at the top by clips A ,,and it rises and falls in front of the metal frame, but as is evident from in: specting Fig. 3 a long target in the plane of the front side of the bars A in the rear carriage could not move downward below the tops of the standards of the metal frame. For this reason the rear target supporting bars are rearwardly offset as shown at A so that although the target is in front of the upper portions of the supporting offset bars it is in the rear of the plane of the lower portions and thus in the rear of the metal frame.

It is to be observed that the parts of the wood frame which rise into the line of fire are constructed without any metal parts even such as nails or screws.

What I claim is:

1. In target apparatus, the combination with a rigid frame provided with vertical ways, of two targets arranged to move along said ways, respectively, a shaft revolubly mounted in said frame and bearing two rigidly attached wheels, non-slipping belts passing over said wheels, respectively, and each having its ends connected to said targets, respectively, a lever pivotally supported by the frame, and multiplying gearing actuated by said lever and connected with said shaft to rotate it.

2. In target apparatus, the combination with a rigid frame provided with vertical ways, of two targets arranged to move along said Ways, respectively, a shaft revolubly mounted in said frame and bearing two rigidly attached wheels, nonslipping belts passing over said wheels, respectively, and each having its ends connected to said targets, respectively, a pinion upon said shaft, a rotating gear engaging said pinion, a foot lever pivotally supported by the frame at some distance below said gear, and a pitman connecting one arm of said lever to a point upon said gear at some distance from its axis.

3. In target apparatus, the combination with a rigid frame provided with vertical ways, of two targets arranged to move along said Ways, respectively, a shaft revolubly mounted in said frame and bearing two rigidly attached wheels, non-slipping belts passing over said wheels, respectively, and each having its ends connected to said targets, respectively, a pinion fixed to said shaft, a gear engaging said pinion, a foot lever pivotally supported by the frame and having an arm normally extending upward approximately in the vertical plane of the levers pivot, and a pitman connecting the end of said arm with a point upon said gear at some distance from its axis and normally at one side of its vertical plane.

4. In target apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame and a revoluble target-shifting shaft mounted therein, of a gear for rotating said shaft, a counter weighted lever pivoted below said gear and provided with a normally vertical arm above its axis, and a pitman connecting the vertical arm with a point upon the gear at some dis-,

tance from its axis and normally at one side of its vertical plane; whereby the pitman resists rotary movement of the gear unless displaced by the swinging of the lever.

5. A target holding carriage for sliding vertically along suitable ways, comprising two, parallel vertical bars each provided with rollers to engage such ways, a horizontal bar rigidly connecting said vertical bars at some distance from their lower ends and provided near its own ends with vertical openings, and short braces rigidly connecting the lower ends of said vertical bars, respectively, to said l10rizontal bar, near its ends, and each provided with a socket alining with the opening. above, in the corresponding end of the horizontal bar.

6. In target apparatus, the frame comprising the two parallel, widely separated pairs of slightly separated vertical angle bars, the tubular, horizontal cross bars near the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said bars and lyingbetween the bars of each pair, and the couplings clamping the ends of the cross bars, respectively, and each 10 rigidly attached to the adjacent portions of the corre sponding angle bars.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT H. AIKEN. Witnesses FRANCIS S. Macunm, \VALLACE GREnNE. 

